Elastic doll and method for manufacturing same

ABSTRACT

An elastic doll capable of being bent at sites therein which are to be bent and kept from being bent at sites therein which are not to be bent, to thereby be deformed in a natural manner and capable of being downsized. The elastic doll includes a trunk ( 1 ), arms ( 2 ) and legs ( 3 ) in which a skeleton member ( 7 ) is embedded. The skeleton member ( 7 ) is constituted by first cores ( 8 ) made of metal and arranged at sites in the doll corresponding to joints and second cores made of rigid synthetic resin and arranged at sites in the doll corresponding to distal ends thereof and positions between joints adjacent to each other. The first cores ( 8 ) and second cores ( 9 ) are connected to each other, wherein the first cores ( 8 ) are covered with synthetic resin ( 6   a ) as required. The skeleton member ( 7 ) is covered with a skin/flesh member ( 6 ) made of soft synthetic resin.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an elastic doll bendable at predeterminedsites therein and a method for manufacturing the same, and moreparticularly to an elastic doll which has a skeleton embedded thereinand is constructed to be bent at only joints and a method formanufacturing the same.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a dress-up doll which is adapted to be bendable at armsand legs, resulting in the doll being deformed into a variety of desiredfigures and which is permitted to put on various dresses for enjoymenthas been accepted by girls. The doll is typically constructed in such amanner as shown in FIG. 1A. More specifically, it includes a trunk 120,and arms 121 and legs 122 pivotally connected to the trunk 120. The arms121 are each formed so as to be bendable about an elbow 123 and the legs122 are each formed to be bendable about a knee 124.

When the conventional doll thus constructed is formed in imitation of agirl, wearing of long-sleeved clothes on the doll permits bent portionsof the doll such as shoulders and knees to be out of sight. However,when the doll has a skirt worn thereon, it fails to keep the knees fromsight, so that joints of the knees 124 are externally exposed as shownin FIG. 1B, resulting in the doll being rendered unnatural. In order toeliminate such a problem, an elastic doll which is made of an elasticsynthetic resin material and constructed so as to prevent exposure ofjoints was proposed. The elastic doll includes a trunk, arms, legs and ahead detachably supported on the trunk and has a metal core (wire)embedded therein. More particularly, such an elastic doll, as disclosedin Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 35277/1988, isso configured that legs or arms each include an outer skin layer and asoft resin layer arranged in the outer skin layer. Also, a flexible coresuch as a wire is embedded in the soft resin layer. Such constructionpermits plastic deformation of the internal core, so that the elasticdoll may be bent at a part of a body thereof like the human body andkept bent. Thus, the doll is held bent while permitting a surface of thedoll to be soft, to thereby exhibit enhanced reality.

Unfortunately, the conventional elastic doll, when the core or wire isre-bent into an inverted dog-legged shape after it is bent into adog-legged shape, causes both bending operations to be generally carriedout at different sites therein rather than the same site. Thus, aportion of the elastic doll bent once is not restored to its formerstate by the re-bending operation, resulting in the portion being keptbent. The fact that the bending and re-bending are carried out atdifferent sites causes problems such as unnatural operation of the doll,deformation of arms, a variation in length thereof and the like.Further, direct bending of the metal core such as a wire or the likecauses it to be bent at an acute angle into a sharp shape such as anL-shape or a V-shape, unlike a core made of synthetic resin. Thus,stress is concentrated at only the bent portion, leading to possiblebreakage of the core. Breakage of the core in the elastic doll causes anend of the core to possibly break through a skin/flesh member of theelastic doll, to thereby be externally exposed, leading to damage to thehuman body. Also, the conventional elastic doll is unnatural because itcauses sites therein other than joints to be unintendedly bent.

Insert molding of such an elastic doll causes holding of the core at acenter in a mold to be highly difficult. The reason is that the insertmolding requires to fix the core in the molding space while keeping itfloating therein. Mere fixing of an end of the core corresponding to ahand of the doll or a foot thereof on an edge of a molding space failsto permit the above-described fixing of the core to be satisfactorilycarried out. Also, it is required that the core be embedded in a trunkwhile being kept floating therein. An injection pressure of a moldingmaterial occurring during injection of the material into the moldingspace is highly increased, therefore, a failure in firm fixing of thecore in the molding space causes the core to be forcibly moved by thepressure during the injection, so that the core is deviated from acenter of the molding space, to thereby be readily abutted against aninner surface of the molding space. Thus, the conventional elastic dollhas problems that the core is externally exposed from a surface of theelastic doll molded, the core is deviated from a center of the elasticdoll, to thereby cause unnatural bending, and yields of the elastic dollare reduced.

The present invention has been made so as to eliminate theabove-described problems of the prior art. Accordingly, it is an objectof the present invention to provide an elastic doll capable of beingbent at sites therein which are to be bent and kept from being bent atsites therein which are not desired to be bent, to thereby be deformedinto a natural figure or configuration and capable of being reduced insize, and a method for manufacturing the same.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an elastic dollwhich is capable of preventing stress from being locally concentrated ona core, to thereby ensure enhanced safety and endurance, and which iscapable of exhibiting natural motion like motion of the human body andgiving a touch like the human skin, and a method for manufacturing thesame.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an elasticdoll which is capable of permitting a core (skeleton member) embeddedtherein to be held at a central position in various parts of the doll,and a method for manufacturing the same.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an elastic dollis provided. The elastic doll includes a trunk, arms and legs in which askeleton member is embedded, wherein the skeleton member includesflexible first cores and second cores made of rigid synthetic resin, thefirst cores and second cores are connected to each other, and theskeleton member is covered with a skin/flesh member made of softsynthetic resin.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first cores aremade of metal, wherein the skeleton member is constituted by the firstcores which are arranged at sites in the doll corresponding to jointsand the second cores which are arranged at sites in the dollcorresponding to distal ends thereof and positions between jointsadjacent to each other. The term “joints” in “sites corresponding tojoints” does not means “all joints”. Thus, in the present invention, thefirst cores may be arranged at a part of the joints.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first cores arecovered with synthetic resin.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the synthetic resinfor covering the first cores and the soft synthetic resin for theskin/flesh member are each a thermoplastic elastomer.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic dollfurther includes a neck having a part of the skeleton member embeddedtherein. The first cores are each constituted of a wire. The first coresarranged in the neck, the trunk and the arms and legs are different indiameter from each other.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the skeleton memberis integrally formed or formed by integrally coupling skeletoncomponents previously formed separately from each other to each other.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first cores inthe arms and legs each have portions arranged in parallel to each other.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first cores areeach bent at ends thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first cores areeach constituted by an elongated plate-like member made of metal orformed to have a coil-like shape.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second cores areeach formed with a fixing shaft arranged so as to extend therefrom to asurface of the doll. The fixing shaft is made of a material which iscompatible with the soft synthetic resin for the skin/flesh member.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the skeleton memberincludes a foot skeleton section incorporated in each of the legs. Thefoot skeleton section is externally exposed at a portion thereofcorresponding to a sole of a foot of each of the legs from the sole.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first cores areeach made of metal. The skeleton member is constituted by the firstcores which are arranged at sites in the doll corresponding to jointsand the second cores which are arranged at sites in the dollcorresponding to distal ends thereof and positions between jointsadjacent to each other. The trunk includes three of such first coresarranged therein so as to be vertically extended, wherein an outer twoof the three first cores are inwardly curved with respect to each other.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second cores areformed at a place thereon facing the joint with small projections.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method formanufacturing an elastic doll is provided. The method includes the stepsof: insert molding second cores on each of flexible first cores so as tobe spaced from each other using a skeleton forming material, to therebyform a skeleton member including the first and second cores connected toeach other; and insert molding a skin/flesh member on the skeletonmember using a skin/flesh forming material.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the skeleton formingmaterial and skin/flesh forming material are compatible with each other,so that the second cores and skin/flesh forming material are weldedtogether during molding.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the skeleton formingmaterial is polyolefin resin and the skin/flesh forming material is anelastomer.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic dollincludes a trunk, arms and legs in which a skeleton member is embedded.The skeleton forming material is rigid synthetic resin and theskin/flesh forming member is soft synthetic resin. The step of insertmolding the second cores includes forming fixing shafts which extendfrom the second cores to a surface of the doll. The step of insertmolding the skin/flesh member includes arranging the skeleton member ina mold for molding the skin/flesh member, fixing the fixing shafts onmating surfaces of the mold to stabilize the skeleton member andinjecting the soft synthetic resin into the mold. The method furtherincludes the steps of removing portions of the fixing shafts projectedfrom the surface of the doll after molding and treating marks left onthe surface of the doll due to removal of the projected portions of thefixing shafts.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the step of treatingthe marks is carried out by melting the surface of the doll.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the skeleton memberincludes a foot skeleton section incorporated in each of the legs. Thestep of insert molding the skin/flesh member includes directly abuttinga rear surface of a distal end of each of the second cores correspondingto the foot skeleton section against an inner surface of molding spacesin the mold, to thereby securely hold the second cores therein.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first cores areeach made of metal. The skeleton member is constituted by the firstcores which are arranged at sites in the doll corresponding to jointsand the second cores which are arranged at sites in the dollcorresponding to distal ends thereof and positions between jointsadjacent to each other. The trunk includes three of the first coresarranged therein so as to be vertically extended, wherein an outer twoof the three first cores are inwardly curved with respect to each other.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second cores areformed at a place thereon facing a joint with small projections.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fixing shaftsare each arranged at a site in the doll at which an injection pressureof the soft synthetic resin is unstable when the soft synthetic resin isinjected into the mold.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention,sa methodfor molding an elastic doll which includes a trunk, arms and legs inwhich a skeleton member is embedded is provided. The method includes thesteps of providing cores made of rigid synthetic resin to constitute theskeleton member, wherein fixing shafts are formed to extend from thecores to a surface of the doll, arranging the skeleton member in a moldand fixing the fixing shafts on mating surfaces of the mold to stabilizethe skeleton member, injecting soft synthetic resin into the mold, andremoving portions of the fixing shafts projected from the surface of thedoll after molding and treating marks left on the surface of the dolldue to removal of the projected portions of the fixing shafts.

It is preferable that the treating of the marks be carried out bymelting the surface of the doll.

It is preferable that the skeleton member include a foot skeletonsection incorporated in each of the legs, and a rear surface of a distalend of each of the cores corresponding to the foot skeleton section bedirectly abutted against an inner surface of molding spaces in the mold,to thereby be securely held therein.

It is preferable that the skeleton member be constituted by first coresmade of metal and arranged at sites in the doll corresponding to jointsand second cores made of rigid synthetic resin and arranged at sites inthe doll corresponding to distal ends thereof and positions betweenjoints adjacent to each other, and the trunk include three of such firstcores arranged therein so as to be vertically extended, wherein an outertwo of the three first cores are inwardly curved with respect to eachother.

In addition, it is preferable that the cores of the skeleton member beformed at a place thereon facing a joint with small projections.

It is preferable that the fixing shafts be each arranged at a site inthe doll at which an injection pressure of the soft synthetic resin isunstable when the soft synthetic resin is injected into the mold.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B each are a schematic view showing a conventional doll;prior art

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first mold used for manufacturingan elastic doll according to one embodiment of the present invention byway of example;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a skeleton member molded by thefirst mold;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the skeleton member set in a secondmold;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing deformation of a molded arm for anelastic doll;

FIG. 6 is a schematic front elevation view showing a doll moldedaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view showing an elastic doll according toanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view in section of the elastic doll shown inFIG. 7 from which a skin/flesh member is removed and which is verticallysectioned;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view partly in section of the elastic dollshown in FIG. 7 from which the skin/flesh member is removed;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view showing a modification of a skeletonmember;

FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of the skeleton member which isseparated into three skeleton components;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a manner of connection of theskeleton components shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a manner of molding of the skeletonmember;

FIG. 14 is a front elevation view of the skeleton member;

FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing a manner of coating synthetic resinon first cores of the skeleton member to make a semi-finished product;

FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of the semi-finished product;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view showing a manner of forming a finishedproduct or elastic doll;

FIG. 18 is a front elevation view showing an elastic doll according to afurther embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a front elevation view showing a skeleton member incorporatedin the elastic doll of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a side elevation view of the skeleton member of the elasticdoll shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a front elevation view of the skeleton member shown in FIG.19 prior to molding;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged view showing an essential part of a fixing shaftof a forearm;

FIGS. 23A, 23B and 23C each are a sectional view showing a respectiveone of skeleton components received in molding spaces;

FIG. 24 is a front elevation view showing a semi-finished productimmediately after molding;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view showing a cut surface of a fixingshaft;

FIG. 26 is a schematic view of an essential part of a mold showingflowing of molten resin injected from portions of the mold correspondingto legs of a doll into the mold; and

FIG. 27 is a schematic view showing movement of a skin/flesh member whena wrist is moved.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

Now, the present invention will be described in connection withembodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring first to FIGS. 2 to 6, an embodiment of an elastic dollaccording to the present invention is illustrated. In FIG. 2, referencenumeral 23 designates a first mold used for molding an arm according toa method for manufacturing an elastic doll according to the presentinvention. The first mold 23 is formed therein with a first space 24 afor molding a first section of a second core in imitation of hand bonestherein, a second space 24 b for molding a second section of the secondcore in imitation of a radius therein and a third spacer 24 c formolding a third section of the second core in imitation of a humerustherein. The first mold 23 functions to carry out insert molding of askeleton member 7 using a flexible wire or the like as a first core 8and a skeleton forming material consisting of polyolefin resin such aspolypropylene or the like.

The skeleton member 7 molded by means of the first mold 23 using thefirst core 8 as an insert, as shown in FIG. 3, has a first section 9 aof a second core, a second section 9 b thereof and a third section 9 cthereof formed on the first core 8 such as a wire or the like so as tobe spaced from each other at predetermined intervals, resulting in thefirst core 8 being formed with exposed sections which correspond tojoints of a wrist, an elbow and the like, respectively. Suchconstruction permits the first core 8 to be bent at only the exposedsections while preventing it from being bent at the sections 9 a to 9 cof the second core.

The skeleton member 7, as shown in FIG. 4, is set as an insert in asecond mold 27 and then a skin/flesh forming material consisting of anelastomer is subjected to insert molding to form a skin/flesh member 6around the skeleton member 7. In this instance, the molding material forthe skin/flesh member 6 and that for the skeleton member 7 areconstituted by materials which are compatible with each other,respectively, to thereby permit the skin/flesh member 6 and the first tothird sections 9 a to 9 c of the second core to be satisfactorily weldedtogether. This permits the skeleton member 7 and skin/flesh member 6 tobe deformed in association with each other without being separated fromeach other when an arm molded is bent as shown in FIG. 5. Also, thefirst to third sections 9 a to 9 c of the second core are made of arigid material, so that bending of the arm is carried out at any exposedsection of the first core 8 without bending of the second core,resulting in unnatural deformation of the arm such as bending thereof atany intermediate portion thereof, curving of the whole arm or the likebeing eliminated.

Also, the whole elastic doll may be formed by the above-described doubleinsert molding.

In this instance, as shown in FIG. 6, a whole skeleton is made of thefirst cores 8 such as a wire or the like and insert molding of theskeleton member 7 constituted by a plurality of second cores 9 iscarried out using the whole skeleton as an insert. Then, insert moldingof the skin/flesh member 6 is carried out using the skeleton member 7thus molded as an insert.

Such molding permits the elastic doll to be formed to have a small size.Also, the elastic doll molded ensures bending of sections of the dollwhich are desired to be bent and prevents bending of sections thereofwhich are not desired to be bent, leading to natural deformation of thedoll. Thus, the elastic doll of the illustrated embodiment carries outsatisfactory deformation as seen in a large-sized doll while beingreduced in size, to thereby permit a user to enjoy doll play.

In the illustrated embodiment, the second cores are arranged on theflexible first cores so that the first cores are not covered at theportions thereof corresponding to the joints of the doll with the secondcores. Such construction permits the arms of the doll and the like to bepositively bent at the joints, to thereby prevent bending of the doll atunnatural portions thereof, so that the doll exhibits enhanced realitywhile being simplified in structure.

Also, in the illustrated embodiment, a material for the second cores andthat for the skin/flesh member are compatible with each other, so thatinsert molding of the skin/flesh member using the skeleton member as aninsert may permit the second cores and skin/flesh member to be weldedtogether on an interface therebetween, to thereby prevent the skeletonmember from being shifted in the skin/flesh member. Thus, the doll maybe deformed in a natural manner when the arms are bent, resulting inenjoyable doll play being provided.

Further, when the skeleton member is made of polyolefin resin and theskin/flesh member is made of an elastomer, the doll which may give agood feeling to the touch and carry out deformation in a natural mannercan be formed.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 to 17, another embodiment of an elastic dollaccording to the present invention is illustrated. FIG. 7 is a frontelevation view showing an elastic doll of the illustrated embodiment andFIGS. 8 and 9 are a front elevation view and a side elevation view eachshowing an internal structure of the elastic doll, respectively. Theelastic doll of the illustrated embodiment includes a trunk 1, arms 2and legs 3. Also, it includes a neck 4 provided on an upper portionthereof with a neck pin 5, on which a head (not shown) is detachablysupported.

The elastic doll has a surface which is constituted by a skin/fleshmember 6 made of a soft synthetic resin material. The skin/flesh member6 is preferably made of a thermoplastic elastomer such as, for example,a styrene elastomer manufactured under a designation “Leostomer”(trademark) by RIKEN VINYL INDUSTRY CO., LTD. The thermoplasticelastomer has a hardness of preferably about 10 to 20. Most preferably,it has a hardness of 15. The thermoplastic elastomer below 10 inhardness is excessive soft, whereas the elastomer above 20 in hardnessfails to exhibit flexibility or softness like the human skin.

The elastic doll, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, has a skeleton member 7embedded therein, which is covered with the above-described skin/fleshmember 6.

The skeleton member 7 is constituted by first cores 8 made of metal andsecond cores 9 made of rigid synthetic resin which are integrallyconnected to each other. The first cores 8 are arranged at sites in thedoll corresponding to joints and the second cores 9 are arranged atsites in the doll corresponding to distal ends thereof and positionsbetween joints adjacent to each other.

More particularly, the first cores 8 are each made of an iron wire, astainless steel wire or the like and arranged at shoulders 10 of thedoll, elbows 11 thereof, wrists 12 thereof, a crotch 13 thereof, knees14 thereof and ankles 15 thereof as well as the above-described neck 4.The arms 2 and legs 3 each have a first core 8 a arranged therein. Thefirst core 8 a includes parallel portions formed by bending the firstcore 8 a into a U-shape at a tip of a hand or foot. Also, the trunk 1has a first core 8 b arranged at a center therein. More specifically,the first core 8 b is arranged at a site in the trunk 1 positionedbetween a breast 16 and a waist 17 (or at a stomach 18) andcorresponding to a backbone. This is due to the reason that the portionbetween the breast 16 and waist 17 may be considered to be a joint in abroad sense in view of the fact that it is bent.

The first cores 8 are formed to have diameters different from each otherdepending on sites in the doll at which they are arranged. Moreparticularly, the first core 8 b arranged in the trunk 1 is formed tohave the largest diameter. Then, a first core 8 c arranged in the neck 4is formed to have an intermediate diameter and the first core 8 a ineach of the arms 2 and legs 3 has the smallest diameter. However, theillustrated embodiment is not limited to such a difference in diameter.It may be suitably determined depending on frequency of bending of thefirst core at each of the sites. Also, it is not necessarily requiredthat the first cores 8 be arranged at all joints. They may be arrangedat a part of the joints. The first cores 8 are each bent at ends 19thereof.

The first cores 8 are each covered with a synthetic resin material 6 a.The synthetic resin 6 a functions to prevent the first core 8 from beingbent at a sharp or acute angle. It is preferably the same material(thermoplastic elastomer) as the skin/flesh member 6. When thethermoplastic elastomer is selected for this purpose, it most preferablyhas a hardness of about 25 to 35. In particular, the hardness of 30 isoptimum. The first core 8 is covered with the synthetic resin 6 a inorder to permit bending force to be uniformly applied to the first core8 while preventing the first core 8 from being bent at an acute angle atany particular site and permit the first core 8 a once 30 bent to bekept bent. The synthetic resin having a hardness below 25 fails toprevent the first core from being bent at an acute angle, whereas thehardness above 35 substantially fails to keep the first core bentbecause the resin excessively exerts force of restoring it to itsoriginal configuration.

The second cores 9 are each arranged between the joints adjacent to eachother. More particularly, second cores 9 a, 9 b, 9 c, 9 d, 9 e, 9 f and9 g are arranged at the neck 4, between each of the shoulders 10 andeach of the elbows 11, between each elbow 11 and each wrist 12, betweenthe neck 4 or each of the shoulders 10 and the stomach 18, between thestomach 18 and crotch 13, between the crotch 13 and each knee 14, andbetween each knee 14 and each foot 15. Also, the second cores 9 arearranged at the distal end of each of the arms 2 and that of each of thelegs 3. More specifically, a second core 9 h is arranged at the distalend of each arm 2 and a second core 9 i is arranged at the distal end ofeach leg 3. Thus, the second cores 9 are arranged at sites in the dollcorresponding to bones, thereby not to be bent. Therefore, the secondcores 9 may each be made of rigid synthetic resin. For this purpose, arigid synthetic resin material such as polypropylene or the like whichis compatible with a thermoplastic elastomer is preferably used. Thereason is that it can be satisfactorily coupled to the skin/flesh member6, thus, it does not give any strange or abnormal feeling when it isbent and it effectively prevents torsion or dislocation between thesecond cores 9 and the skin/flesh member 6.

As described above, of the first cores 8, the first core 8 b arranged inthe trunk 1 has the largest diameter, to thereby be hard to bend at asharp or acute angle, resulting in it being curvedly bent whiledescribing a large arc as in bending of a backbone of the human body.Also, the first core 8 a arranged in each of the arms 2 and legs 3 isformed to have a diameter smaller than the first core 8 b and has theabove-described portions arranged in parallel with each other, tothereby be easy to bend forwardly and rearwardly or in a direction whichis perpendicular to a plane in which the parallel portions arepositioned and hard to bend in a vertical direction or in the plane.This permits the doll to carry out motion or movement highly similar tothat of the human body. Also, the ends 19 of each of the first cores 8are bent, to thereby minimize a possibility that the ends outwardlyproject through the skin/flesh member 6, resulting in them substantiallypreventing damage to children, so that the doll may exhibit enhancedsafety. Also, bending of the ends ensures safety of the doll even whenthey break through the skin/flesh member 6.

The first cores 8 are not limited to the above-described thickness andnumber. For example, one such first core may be embedded in each of acombination of the right arm, trunk, right leg and a combination of theleft arm, trunk and left leg. Also, the first cores 8 may each have theskin/flesh member 6 directly arranged therearound so as to cover it.

Further, the first cores 8 are not limited to a straight configuration.Each of them, as shown in FIG. 10, is constituted by an elongatedplate-like member made of metal. Alternatively, each of them may beconstituted by a coiled member made of metal so that each of joints maybe recessed.

In addition, the skeleton member 7 may be formed by integrally couplingskeleton components previously formed separately from each other to eachother. For example, when skeleton components 7 b for both arms 2 and askeleton component 7 a for the trunk 1 are molded separately from eachother as shown in FIG. 11, a mold 20 may be reduced in size, resultingin a manufacturing cost being reduced. Also, such construction permitsthe mold 20 to be horizontally set. Thus, the skeleton member 7 may bestably held in the mold. In this instance, as shown in FIG. 12, theshoulders 10 may each be formed with a screwing section 21 andcorrespondingly the arms 2 may each be formed at a proximal portionthereof with a screw inserting hole 22. Such construction permits theabove-described skeleton components 7 a and 7 b to be integrally coupledtogether by screwing. Therefore, insert molding while keeping bothcomponents thus coupled together permits manufacturing of a finishedproduct identical with the above-described one. On the contrary, whenboth arms 2 and the trunk 1 are integrated with each other, the arms arecaused to extend in both lateral directions, so that a whole size of themold is increased, leading to an increase in manufacturing cost.

Now, manufacturing of the elastic doll thus constructed will bedescribed. First of all, as shown in FIG. 13, the first cores 8 a, 6 band 8 c are each held at a predetermined position in a mold 23. The mold23 is formed at sites therein corresponding to the second cores 9 withspaces 24. Also, it is formed with first core fixing sections 25. Thefirst cores 8 a, 8 b and 8 c are partially placed in the fixing sections25 of the mold 23, to thereby be fixedly interposed between a pair ofmold members of the mold 23 when the mold members are joined together toclose the mold 23. Fixing of the first cores 8 may be carried out byarranging magnets in the mold to securely hold the first cores 8 on themagnets by magnetic attraction. Reference numeral 26 designates runnersfor resin. Then mold is tightly closed, a molten resin material(polypropylene or the like) is injected through the runners 26 into thespace 24. After cooling, the mold is opened, so that the skeleton member7 constituted by the first cores 8 (8 a, 8 b and 8 c) and second cores 9(9 a to 9 i) connected to each other is obtained, as shown in FIG. 14.

Then, the thus-obtained skeleton member 7 is securely placed in anothermold 27, as shown in FIG. 15. The mold 27 is formed at sites thereincorresponding to exposed portions of the first cores 8, the arms, thehands and the feet with spaces 28. The spaces 28 each have a runner 26 acommunicating therewith. The second cores 9 are held inside the moldwhen the mold is closed. After the mold is closed to securely hold theskeleton 7 in the mold, a molten resin material is injected through therunners 26 a into the spaces 28. At this time, the runners 26 acorresponding to the first cores 8 are fed with a thermoplasticelastomer 6 a having a hardness of 30, whereas the runners 26 a for thearms, hands and feet are fed with a thermoplastic elastomer having ahardness of 15. The mold is opened after cooling thereof, so that asemi-finished product 32 is obtained, wherein the first cores 8 arecovered with the thermoplastic elastomer 6 a of 30 in hardness andelbows 29, hands 30 and feet 31 are made of the thermoplastic elastomerof 15 in hardness, as shown in FIG. 16.

Subsequently, the thus-obtained semi-finished product 32 is securelyplaced in a further mold 33 as shown in FIG. 17. The mold 33 is formedtherein with spaces 34 into which a resin material for the skin/fleshmember of the elastic doll is injected, except for the elbows 29, hands30 and feet 31. Of the mold 33, portions thereof corresponding to theelbows 29, hands 30 and feet 31 are fixed when the mold is closed,resulting in the semi-finished product 32 being securely held in themold 33 while being floated in the spaces 34. In order to ensure thatthe semi-finished product 32 is securely held at a central positionthereof, it is preferable that one of mold members of the mold 33 bemounted thereon with a fixing pin (not shown), resulting in thesemi-finished product 32 being abutted at a lower abdomen thereofagainst a distal end of the fixing pin. After the mold 33 is closed, amolten material (thermoplastic elastomer of 30 in hardness) is injectedthrough runners 26 b into the spaces 34. When the mold 33 is openedafter cooling thereof, a finished product wherein the skeleton member 7is covered with the skin/flesh member 6 is obtained, as shown in FIG.17. The lower abdomen of the elastic doll is formed thereon with a mark35 of the fixing pin. However, it is normally covered with underwear, tothereby be out of sight, so that the mark may be ignored.

Manufacturing or molding of the elastic doll shown in FIG. 17 is notlimited to the above-described manner. For example, the elbows 29, hands30 and feet 31 may be formed together with other parts in the last step.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first cores are covered withsynthetic resin, to thereby prevent the joint sections from being bentat an acute angle, resulting in stress being prevented from beinglocally concentrated at apart of the first cores when the joint sectionsare bent. This substantially eliminates accidents such as breakage ofthe first cores and the like, so that the elastic doll may exhibitincreased safety and durability. Also, the second cores are arranged atsites in the elastic dolls corresponding to bones of the human body andmade of rigid synthetic resin, to thereby be prevented from being bent,so that the elastic doll may exhibit enhanced reality becauseunnaturalness that the doll is bent at portions thereof other than thejoints is eliminated.

The illustrated embodiment, as described above, may be constructed sothat synthetic resin covering the first cores and soft synthetic resinfor the skin/flesh member are each constituted by a thermoplasticelastomer. Such construction permits both materials to be compatiblewith each other, to thereby be readily integrated with each other. Also,such construction permits the doll to give a feeling like the humanskin, resulting in the doll exhibiting enhanced reality. Also, the dollmay be so constructed that the first cores are constituted by a wire andare varied in diameter depending on the sites in the doll in which theyare arranged such as the neck, trunk, arms and legs. This permits adegree of bending of the first cores and an angle thereof to be varieddepending on the sites as desired, so that the doll of the illustratedembodiment may carry out bending suitable for each of the sites.

Integral formation of the skeleton member facilitates molding of theelastic doll. Also, formation of the skeleton member by integrallycoupling the skeleton components to each other reduces a size of themold. This permits the mold to be horizontally set, to thereby stablyhold the cores and the like during a molding operation.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first cores for the arms and legs mayeach be formed so as to have the portions parallel to each other. Thisfacilitates bending of the first core in one of anteroposterior andlateral (or vertical) directions and renders bending in the otherdirection difficult, so that the joints of the doll may carry out motionnearer motion of joints of the human body. The first cores may each bebent at both ends thereof, to thereby be substantially prevented fromoutwardly breaking through the skin/flesh member. Even if the projectionoccurs, the first core is hard to damage children due to being of bothends, to thereby provide the doll with enhanced safety.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, as described above, the firstcores may each be constituted by the elongated plate-like member, sothat a direction of bending of the first core may be restricted to adegree. Also, when the first core is formed to have a coil-like shape,it renders bending thereof at an acute angle difficult, to therebyreduce dependency on the synthetic resin covering it.

Referring now to FIGS. 18 to 27, a further embodiment of an elastic dollaccording to the present invention is illustrated, wherein FIG. 18 is afront elevation view of an elastic doll of the illustrated embodimentand FIGS. 19 and 20 are a front elevation view and a side elevation vieweach showing an internal structure of the elastic doll, respectively.The elastic doll of the illustrated embodiment includes a trunk 1, arms2 and legs 3. It also includes a neck which is provided on an upperportion thereof with a neck pin 5, on which a head (not shown) isdetachably supported. The elastic doll has a surface constituted by askin/flesh member 6 made of soft synthetic resin, as in the embodimentsdescribed above. The skin/flesh member 6 of the elastic doll has askeleton member 7 embedded therein as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20.

The skeleton member 7 is constructed by integrally connecting firstcores 58 made of metal and second cores 9 made of rigid synthetic resinto each other. The first cores 58 are arranged at sites in the dollcorresponding to joints and the second cores 9 are arranged at sites inthe elastic doll corresponding to distal ends thereof and positionsbetween the joints adjacent to each other.

More specifically, the first cores 58 are each constituted by a wiremade of iron, stainless steel or the like and arranged at shoulders,elbows, wrists, a crotch, knees and ankles as well as the neck. Also,the first core 58 is arranged at a center of the trunk 1 and moreparticularly at a site in the trunk 1 corresponding to a portion of abackbone positioned between a breast and a waist or at a stomach.

The first cores 58 are formed to have diameters different from eachother depending on sites in the doll, respectively.

More particularly, the first cores 58 arranged in the neck, trunk, andcrotch are formed to have the largest diameter, to thereby be hard tobend at an acute angle, resulting in the first cores being curvedly bentwhile describing a large arc as in bending of a backbone of the humanbody. Then, the first core 58 arranged in the neck is formed to have anintermediate diameter. The first cores 58 arranged in the arms 2 andlegs 3 are formed to have the smallest diameter, resulting in them beingreadily bent. Nevertheless, a difference in diameter of the first coresis not limited to the above. It may be suitably determined depending onfrequency of bending thereof. Also, it is not necessarily required toarrange the first cores at all sites in the doll corresponding tojoints. Thus, they may be arranged at a part of the joints. The firstcores 58 are preferably bent at ends thereof to prevent the ends frombreaking through the skin/flesh member 6, to thereby be outwardlyexposed therefrom.

The trunk 1 has three first cores 58 a, 58 b and 58 c arranged in aportion thereof positioned between the breast and the waist so as to bevertically extended. An outer two of such three first cores which aredesignated by 58 a and 58 c are formed so as to be curved inwardly withrespect to each other. Such construction prevents the trunk 1 fromextending due to the first core 58 b formed to be straight andpositioned between the first cores 58 a and 58 c. Arrangement of thecurved first cores 58 a and 58 c with the straight first core 58 b beinginterposed therebetween permits the trunk 1 to realize all kinds ofdeformation including “torsion”, “anteroposterior bending” and “lateralbending”.

The second cores 9 are arranged between the joints. More specifically,the second cores 9 are arranged at sites in the doll corresponding tothe breast, upper arms, forearms, the waist, upper legs, lower legs andfeet. Thus, the sites at which the second cores 9 are arrangedcorrespond to bones of the human body which are not to be bent, so thatthe second cores 9 are made of rigid synthetic resin. The rigidsynthetic resin is preferably compatible with a material for theskin/flesh member 6 such as a thermoplastic elastomer or the like. Thus,it may be polypropylene or the like. From a viewpoint of compatibility,materials for the skin/flesh member 6 and second core 9 may be selectedfrom elastomers different in hardness from each other, respectively. Thereason is that use of a material which is compatible with the skin/fleshmember 6 for the second core 9 permits the second core 9 to beintegrally coupled to the skin/flesh member 6 during a moldingoperation, to thereby keeping the second core from giving a feelingdifferent from the skin/flesh member 6. Also, it satisfactorily preventstorsion or dislocation from occurring between the second core 9 and theskin/flesh member 6. In the illustrated embodiment, hands 38 areconnected to the skeleton member 7.

Reference numeral 39 designates small projections formed on an endsurface of each of the hands 38 defined on a side of the wrist, an endsurface of a proximal portion of a second core 9 f corresponding to eachof the upper legs and an upper surface of a second core 9 dcorresponding to each of the shoulders or an upper portion of the chest.Such small projections are preferably formed on other sites in the dollfacing the joints as well.

The second cores 9 each have a fixing shaft or shafts 36 formed thereonso as to extend therefrom toward a surface of the elastic doll. Moreparticularly, of the second cores 9, the second cores 9 b correspondingto the upper arms, second cores 9 f and 9 g corresponding to the upperand lower legs and second cores 9 i corresponding to the feet are eachformed on a lateral portion thereof with the fixing shaft or shafts 36.Also, a second core 9 e corresponding to the waist is provided thereonwith the fixing shaft 36 so as to downwardly extend therefrom. Thefixing shafts 36 are each arranged so as to extend to the surface of thedoll. The fixing shafts 36 are each subjected to a hot shot treatmentusing hot air, to thereby be integrated with the skin/flesh member 6therearound and smoothly finished.

The fixing shafts 36 each have an increased length and are provided at adistal end thereof with an expanded projection 37 of a frust-conicalshape as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, before they are subjected to amolding operation. Also, of the fixing shafts, fixing shafts 36 a (FIG.22) of second cores 9 c at sites in the doll corresponding to theforearms are arranged so as to rearwardly extend therefrom and formed tohave the same diameter. The other fixing shafts 36 are each formed withthe expanded projection 37. The fixing shaft 36 a of the second core 9 cat the site in the doll corresponding to each of the forearms functionsto more securely hold the core in the mold. Thus, arrangement of thefixing shaft 36 a is not necessarily required.

The above-described second core 9 i at the site in the dollcorresponding to each of the feet is exposed on a surface thereofcorresponding to a sole of the foot from the sole and formed on theexposed surface with small holes 44 as shown in FIG. 23C.

Now, a manner of molding of the thus-constructed elastic doll will bedescribed by way of example. First of all, as shown in FIGS. 23A and23B, a split mold 40 which is formed therein with a molding space 41 isprovided. The split mold has mating surfaces defined around the moldingspace 41. The mating surfaces are each formed with fit grooves 42 inwhich the respective fixing shafts 36 provided with the expandedprojections 37 are fitted. Also, one mold member 40 a of the split mold40 is formed on a bottom surface of the molding space 41 thereof with afit hole 43 for the fixing shaft 36 a of the second core 9 c at the sitein the doll corresponding to each of the forearms. Such constructionpermits the fixing shafts 36 and 36 a of the skeleton member 7 to befitted in the corresponding fit grooves 42 and fit holes 43,respectively. Also, the hands 38 are each received in a space formed inthe mold so as to be positioned outside the molding space 41. Further,as shown in FIG. 23C, the second core 9 i corresponding to each of thefeet is directly abutted on a rear surface thereof against an innersurface of the molding space 41. The inner surface of the molding space41 is provided thereon with fixing pins 46 so as to inwardly extendtherefrom. Such construction permits the portions of the skeleton member7 corresponding to the legs to be firmly held in place while beingfloated in the molding space 41.

After the mold 40 is closed, a molding material (soft synthetic resinsuch as thermoplastic elastomer or the like) is injected through runnersinto the molding space 41. The molding material preferably has the samecolor as the second cores 9. Although an injection pressure of themolding material is increased, the skeleton member 7 is firmly held inthe molding space 41, to thereby be prevented from moving during amolding operation. After the molding space 41 is filled with the moldingmaterial, the mold 40 is opened, so that a semi-finished product whereinthe skeleton member 7 is covered with the skin/flesh member 6 and thefixing shafts 36 and 36 a are projected from the surface of the elasticdoll may be obtained as shown in FIG. 24. In the illustrated embodiment,the skin/flesh member 6 is made of a thermoplastic elastomer and thehands 38 and second cores 9 are made of polypropylene. Both materialsare compatible with each other, so that the members are melted together,to thereby be integrated with each other.

Then, the fixing shafts 36 and 36 a are removed from the semi-finishedproduct by cutting. Removal of the fixing shafts 36 and 36 a causesmarks (cut surfaces) 45 to be left on the surface of the doll as shownin FIG. 25. Thus, the marks 45 are treated so as to render the wholesurface of the doll smooth. This may be carried out by melting a portionof the skin/flesh member surrounding each of the marks, to therebyrender the surface smooth. More specifically, the portion of theskin/flesh member is melted by a hot shot treatment using hot air, tothereby plug the marks 45, resulting in the surface being smoothed. Thethermoplastic elastomer on an outer side of the doll and the secondcores 9 on an inner side thereof are compatible with each other asdescribed above, so that both are melted with each other by heating, tothereby be integrated together, so that the marks 45 may be smoothlyplugged. Alternatively, the fixing shafts 36 and 36 a may be removed bybreaking rather than the above-described cutting.

The second core 9 i corresponding to each of the feet of the doll, asdescribed above, is externally exposed on the rear surface thereof.However, the rear surface is normally covered with each of socks, tothereby be out of sight, resulting in it being ignored. Alternatively,it is of course that the rear surface may be melted together with thesole of the foot by a hot shot treatment, to thereby be integrated witheach other.

In the case that injection of the soft synthetic resin into the mold 40is carried out by feeding the molten molding material from places on themold corresponding to tips of the feet of the doll toward a portion ofthe molding space 41 corresponding to the trunk 1, an injection pressureof the molding material is rendered unstable when streams of the moldingmaterial are merged together in the trunk 1, so that flowing of themolding material is complicated, to thereby cause force at a magnitudesufficient to lead to vigorous vibration of the skeleton member 7 to beapplied thereto. Nevertheless, the second core 9 positioned at the waistat which the streams are merged with each other is provided with thefixing shaft 36, to thereby permit the skeleton member 7 to be firmlystably held in the molding space 41, resulting in the vibration beingprevented. In addition to the legs, the second core may be provided at asite thereon at which it is bifurcated with the fixing shaft 36, becausethe site causes an injection pressure of the molding material to beunstable.

Further, as described above, the small projections 39 are arranged onthe end surface of each of the hands 38 facing the wrist, the endsurface of the proximal portion of the second core 9 f corresponding toeach of the upper legs and the upper surface of each of the second cores9 d corresponding to the shoulders so as to outwardly project therefrom,wherein these portions are At solidly covered therearound with theskin/flesh member 6. Thus, when, for example, the wrist is bent, thesmall projections 39 as well as the wrist are permitted to be moved asshown in FIG. 27, so that a portion of the skin/flesh member 6positioned around the small projections 39 may be likewise moved. Thisprevents the first core 58 made of metal and corresponding to the wristfrom being violently bent. This prevents stress from being concentratedat a part of the first core 58, so that it may be kept from breakagewhen the bending of the wrist is repeatedly carried out. Arrangement ofthe small projections 39 on the proximal portion of each of the legs 3and the upper surface of each of the shoulders is due to the samereason.

In the illustrated embodiment, the fixing shafts are arranged so as toextend from the second cores made of rigid synthetic resin andconstituting the skeleton member toward the surface of the doll. Also,the material for the fixing shafts are compatible with soft syntheticresin for the skin/flesh member arranged so as to cover the cores. Thus,when the fixing shafts are outwardly exposed at the end surfacesthereof, they are melted to smoothly treat the surface of the doll.Further, the fixing shafts may be exposed from the surface of the doll.Thus, the fixing shafts may be extended to securely hold the cores inthe mold, resulting in the skeleton member being held at a center in therespective sites in the doll during a molding operation. In theillustrated embodiment, the skeleton member is exposed at the portionthereof corresponding to the sole of each of the feet from the sole, sothat the portion may be used for fixing the skeleton member in the moldduring molding.

In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, as described above, theskeleton member is securely held in the mold by the fixing shafts,whereby the skeleton member is held at a center in the respective sitesin the doll. This prevents the core from being exposed from the surfaceof the elastic doll and the core from being deviated from a center ineach of the sites in the doll to a degree sufficient to cause unnaturalbending of the site, leading to an increase in yields. In addition, theillustrated embodiment is so constructed that each of the fixing shaftsis removed at a portion thereof projected from the surface of the dollafter the molding and a portion of the fixing shaft left on the surfaceof the doll due to the removal is treated so as to be cleared from thesurface. This prevents a deterioration in commercial value of thefinished product.

Also, in the embodiment, the marks left on the surface of the doll dueto removal of the fixing shafts are treated by melting the surface ofthe doll, so that the surface of the doll may be smoothed while the cutsurfaces are neatly plugged or treated. Further, in the case that thecore is directly abutted at the rear surface of the distal end thereofcorresponding to each of the feet against the inner surface of themolding space, the portion of the skeleton corresponding to the foot isfirmly held at a predetermined position in the molding space when themold is closed.

Further, in the embodiment, the skeleton member is constituted by thefirst cores made of metal and arranged at the sites in the dollcorresponding to the joints and the second cores made of rigid syntheticresin and arranged at the sites therein corresponding to the distal endsthereof and positions between the joints adjacent to each other, so thatthe doll may be bent at the same sites as joints of the human body, tothereby exhibit enhanced reality. Furthermore, the trunk has three ofthe first cores arranged therein so as to be vertically extended, ofwhich the outer two are curved inwardly with respect to each other. Suchconstruction prevents the trunk from being extended over the centralfirst core. Curving of the outer two first cores permits the trunk torealize all kinds of deformation including “torsion”, “anteroposteriorbending” and “lateral bending”.

Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, the small projections arearranged on the portion of each of the second cores facing the joint, sothat bending of the joint permits the portion to be moved, so that aportion of the skin/flesh member positioned around the small projectionsmay be likewise moved. This prevents the wrists, legs and neck frombeing violently bent, to thereby be kept from breakage when the bendingof the portion is repeatedly carried out. In addition, the fixing shaftsare arranged at the sites in the doll at which an injection pressure ofsoft synthetic resin is rendered unstable during injection of the resininto the mold, so that the skeleton member may be stably held in themolding space.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for manufacturing an elastic dollcomprising the steps of: insert molding second cores on each of flexiblefirst cores so as to be spaced from each other using a skeleton formingmaterial of a rigid synthetic resin, to thereby form a skeleton memberincluding said first and second cores connected to each other; andinsert molding a skin/flesh member on said skeleton member using askin/flesh forming material of a soft synthetic resin whereby the rigidsynthetic resin and the soft synthetic resin are compatibly weldedtogether.
 2. A method for manufacturing an elastic doll as defined inclaim 1, wherein said skeleton forming material is polyolefin resin andsaid skin/flesh forming material is an elastomer.
 3. A method formanufacturing an elastic doll as defined in claim 1 wherein the elasticdoll includes a trunk, arms and legs in which said skeleton member isembedded; said step of insert molding said second cores includes formingfixing shafts which extend from said second cores to a surface of thedoll; and said step of insert molding said skin/flesh member includesarranging said skeleton member in a mold for molding the skin/fleshmember, fixing said fixing shafts on mating surfaces of said mold tostabilize said skeleton member and injecting the soft synthetic resininto said mold, further comprising the steps of removing portions ofsaid fixing shafts projected from the surface of the doll after moldingand treating marks left on the surface of the doll due to removal of theprojected portions of said fixing shafts.
 4. A method for manufacturingan elastic doll as defined in claim 3, wherein said step of treatingsaid marks is carried out by melting the surface of the doll.
 5. Amethod for manufacturing an elastic doll as defined in claim 3, whereinsaid skeleton member includes a foot skeleton section incorporated ineach of said legs; and said step of insert molding said skin/fleshmember includes directly abutting a rear surface of a distal end of eachof said second cores corresponding to said foot skeleton section againstan inner surface of molding spaces in the mold, to thereby securely holdsaid second cores therein.
 6. A method for manufacturing an elastic dollas defined in claim 3, wherein said first cores are each made of metal;said skeleton member is constituted by said first cores which arearranged at sites in the doll corresponding to joints and said secondcores which are arranged at sites in the doll corresponding to distalends thereof and positions between joints adjacent to each other; andsaid trunk includes three of said first cores arranged therein so as tobe vertically extended; an outer two of said three first cores beinginwardly curved with respect to each other.
 7. A method formanufacturing an elastic doll as defined in claim 3, wherein said secondcores are formed at a place thereon facing a joint with smallprojections.
 8. A method for manufacturing an elastic doll as defined inclaim 3, wherein said fixing shafts are each arranged at a site in thedoll at which an injection pressure of the soft synthetic resin isunstable when the soft synthetic resin is injected into said mold.
 9. Amethod for manufacturing an elastic doll which includes a trunk, armsand legs in which a skeleton member is embedded, comprising the stepsof: providing cores made of rigid synthetic resin to constitute saidskeleton member wherein fixing shafts are formed to extend from saidcores to a surface of the doll; arranging said skeleton member in a moldand fixing said fixing shafts on mating surfaces of said mold tostabilize said skeleton member; injecting soft synthetic resin into saidmold; and removing portions of said fixing shafts projected from thesurface of the doll after molding and treating marks left on the surfaceof the doll due to removal of the projected portions of said fixingshafts, the soft synthetic resin and rigid synthetic resin are weldedtogether within the mold.
 10. A method for manufacturing an elastic dollas defined in claim 9, wherein said treating of said marks is carriedout by melting the surface of the doll.
 11. A method for manufacturingan elastic doll as defined in claim 9, wherein said skeleton memberincludes a foot skeleton section incorporated in each of said legs; anda rear surface of a distal end of each of said cores corresponding tosaid foot skeleton section is directly abutted against an inner surfaceof molding spaces in the mold, to thereby be securely held therein. 12.A method for manufacturing an elastic doll as defined in claim 9,wherein said skeleton member is constituted by first cores made of metaland arranged at sites in the doll corresponding to joints and secondcores made of rigid synthetic resin and arranged at sites in the dollcorresponding to distal ends thereof and positions between jointsadjacent to each other; and said trunk includes three of said firstcores arranged therein so as to be vertically extended; an outer two ofsaid three first cores being inwardly curved with respect to each other.13. A method for manufacturing an elastic doll as defined in claim 9,wherein the cores of said skeleton member are formed at a place thereonfacing a joint with small projections.
 14. A method for manufacturing anelastic doll as defined in claim 9, wherein said fixing shafts are eacharranged at a site in the doll at which an injection pressure of thesoft synthetic resin is unstable when the soft synthetic resin isinjected into said mold.
 15. A method for manufacturing an elastic dollas defined in claim 1 wherein the elastic doll includes a trunk, armsand legs in which said skeleton member is embedded; said step of insertmolding said second cores includes forming fixing shafts which extendfrom said second cores to a surface of the doll; and said step of insertmolding said skin/flesh member includes arranging said skeleton memberin a mold for molding the skin/flesh member, fixing said fixing shaftson mating surfaces of said mold to stabilize said skeleton member andinjecting the soft synthetic resin into said mold, further comprisingthe steps of removing portions of said fixing shafts projected from thesurface of the doll after molding and treating marks left on the surfaceof the doll due to removal of the projected portions of said fixingshafts by a hot air procedure to melt the surface adjacent the marks andthe flexible first cores are formed of one of a stainless steel and ironfixedly attached to the second cores.
 16. A method of forming a dollwith simulated bending appendages to simulate a living creature,comprising: forming a metal frame; covering the metal frame with a firstsynthetic resin material with a first hardness value to limit bending ofthe metal frame; molding a plurality of rigid core sections at positionsspaced along the covered metal frame while exposing the covered metalframe in positions corresponding to anatomical joints of the livingcreature; and molding a second soft synthetic resin having a secondhardness value to surround the covered metal frame and the plurality ofrigid core sections to simulate the tissue of the living creature, thefirst hardness value is greater than the second hardness value andwherein the first synthetic resin, and the second synthetic resin areformed of compatible thermoplastic elastomers to weld together whencontacting each other in a mold.
 17. The method of forming a doll asdefined in claim 16 wherein the metal frame includes a plurality of wiremembers bent to provide a pair of substantially parallel portionsextending from a bent intermediate section.
 18. The method of forming adoll as defined in claim 16 wherein the metal frame is principallyformed of iron.
 19. The method of forming a doll as defined in claim 18wherein the metal frame is held magnetically during the molding steps.20. The method of forming a doll as defined in claim 16 wherein therigid core sections are molded of a polyolefin resin and the second softsynthetic resin is an elastomer.
 21. The method of forming a doll asdefined in claim 16 wherein the rigid core sections are molded of apolypropylene and the second soft synthetic resin is a styreneelastomer.
 22. The method of forming a doll as defined in Class 21wherein the first synthetic resin material is a styrene elastomer.